Chief Transportation Officer

Start Date: July 24, 2024 | End Date: August 23, 2024
County: Cumberland County
Job Type: Other

SUMMARY: The Chief Transportation Officer (CTO) leads and manages the Operations and Maintenance Divisions of the Greater Portland Transit District (Metro) for the purpose of providing the highest caliber transit services to the Southern Maine region. The CTO will actively support and uphold the agency's goals and objectives.

Metro is the largest public transit agency in the state of Maine. We offer excellent benefits, a compressed work week with Fridays off, availability of remote work, and we are offering up to $5,000 in relocation reimbursement assistance! This is an exempt position and will be posted until filled.

Salary Range:  $95,481 - $104,335

RESPONSIBILTIES:

• Provide leadership and direction for the Operations and Maintenance Divisions ensuring that transit services are safe, reliable, professional, productive, and cost-effective using industry best practices, sound principles and supporting policies, good judgment, and benchmarked performance metrics.
• Lead and supervise staff to foster commitment to agency, improve employee morale, and create a culture of positivity.
• Monitor, evaluate, and manage performance of the transit system, divisions, teams, and employees. Prioritize and assign work; conduct performance evaluations; ensure staff is properly trained; make hiring, termination and disciplinary decisions.
• Ensure good employee relations, Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and legal compliance. Communicate with union officials on CBA issues including investigations, violations and grievances.
• Coordinate with HR on suspensions, terminations, and grievances on issues such as, but not limited to, FMLA, ADA, & discrimination. Prepare/direct investigation for disciplinary grievances, arbitrations, and other legal hearings. Participate in the negotiation of CBAs.
• Meet market needs and operating efficiency by ensuring metrics and action plans are in place and used to plan staffing needs including proper scheduling, monitoring overtime and daily operations, and evaluating bus routes/schedules.
• Participate in the development of the annual operating budget while ensuring long-term fiscal sustainability.
• Participate in the development of the five (5) year capital improvement program (CIP) and serve as the project manager for assigned capital projects.
• Manage, maintain, and optimize use of Metro's bus fleet, support vehicles as well as infrastructure including buildings, bus stops, transit centers, and fueling facilities.
• Manage Operations and Maintenance activities in accordance with local, state and federal requirements and laws. Ensure compliance with Federal Transit Administration requirements.
• Serve as Metro's fare administrator and assist partner transit agencies with fare collection reporting and administration activities as needed.
• Hold innovation as a core value and pursue creative solutions to improve performance of the transit system, operations, divisions, and staff. Plan, deploy, and manage computer and intelligent transportation system (ITS).
• Assist with the development, administration, and evaluation of contracts for services and products.
• Represent Metro to member agencies, stakeholder boards and organizations, transit users, the media, citizen groups and the transit industry.
• Provide complex administrative assistance to the Executive Director and other management staff.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in transit operations and/or transit fleet maintenance.
• 5+ years of supervisory/management experience in transit operations.
• 5+ years of supervisory experience in a working environment governed by a CBA.
• Will hold at least an Associate's Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in transportation, business, public administration, or field related to the core functions of this position. A Bachelor's Degree is preferred.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:

• Management, leadership, knowledge and experience with effective transit system operations and developing metrics to measure success in reaching system productivity and efficiency in a transit or public sector organization.
• Familiarity with budget development and management, strategic management, project management, asset management, transit planning and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to function and collaborate with regional partners, elected and appointed local, state and federal officials, stakeholders, collective bargaining organizations, business leaders, employees and the public.
• Professionally and effectively communicate verbally and in writing; must be able to concisely explain complex information to the Board of Directors, stakeholders, media, and the public.
• Strong computer skills using Microsoft Office, transit ITS applications including fare collection, scheduling, and vehicle management (i.e. AVL/CAD) software. Fleet Maintenance software experience is desirable.
• Must have or be able to acquire a valid Maine driver's license.